Can-soldering machine



(No Model.) I 2 SheetsSheet 1.

E. THOMSON. CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

No. 444,226. I Patented Jan. 6, 1891.

W I E L .i J A 5 WITNESSES I INVENTOR:

0-6 6m Jzm BY 0AM ATTORNEY.

2 Sheets-Sheet '2.

(No Model.)

E. THOMSON. (JAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

No. 444,226. Patented Jan. 6, 1891.

IN VENTOR ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

ELBERT THOMSON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CAN-SOLDERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,226, dated January 6, 1891.

Application filed September 24, 1890. Serial No. 365,961. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELBERT THOMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can- Soldering Machines, of which the following is a specification.

- My invention relates to an improved machine for soldering the head-seams of sheetmetal cans.

The invention relates to that class of machines Where the can is caused to rotate while its end is in a trough or bath of molten solder.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the machine, but showing only a portion of the revolving carrier, the remainder being broken away to more clearly expose certain parts to view. Fig. 3 is a partial sectional elevation, and shows the action of the devices for retracting the clamping-disk so as to release the can. Fig. 4 is a side view of the supporting-stand. Figs. 5 and 6 show sectional and top views,- respectively, of the can-holder frame. Figs. 7 and 8 show details of the construction of the wire-solder-feed device.

The letter A designates the circular stand, supported on legs A. The perimeter of this stand has a beveled-off or downward-sloping face I), which serves as a track and supports one end of each can-holder B as it is moved around. A vertical shaft Cis supported in a bearing a in the center of the stand. A beveled gear-wheel D is made fast to the shaft. The teeth cl of the wheel are on the upper side and bevel downward.

Around the shaft 0 is a tubular shaft E, whose lower end rests on the hub of the gearwheelD. These two shafts O E are free to turn independently of each other. At the upper end each shaft has its own drive-pulley c c, and a separate belt 0 o thereon drives it. Both shafts are here arranged to turn in the same direction, but at different rates of speed. A hub E above the gear-wheel D is fixed on the tubular shaft, and this hub has arms 6, arranged in pairs. To each pair of hub-arms e oneend of a can-holder frame B is pivoted, as at g. The outer end of each can-holder frame rests on the circular track I) and is free to be raised. This frame carries two clampdisks t' t", each of which will press the end of a can. The clamp-disk i is at that end of the frame which is free to tilt down, and consists simply of a flangeless disk or other snitably-shaped clamp having a spindle-shank 3, which enters a socket in the end of a frame, (see Fig. 5,) whereby said clamp may turn freely. The clamp-disk t is mounted on a shaft is, which turns in the bearings 4 at the pivoted end of the frame. This shaft has both a rotary and an endwise movement. By the rotary movement the clamp will cause the can to revolve, and by the endwise movement this clamp is retracted or drawn away from the other (its coacting clamp) to permit a can to be inserted or removed from between the two clamps.

The shaft 70 is provided with a longitudinal groove 5, and a bevel-pinion m has a feather to fit the groove, whereby while the pinion is fixed between two bearings 4, where it rotates, the shaft may slide endwise through the pinion. Two collars 6 are made fast to the shaft, and the forked end f of a lever F straddles the shaft between the two collars and serves to draw the shaft endwise, and thereby to retract the clamp t'. A spring 'IL is employed, which by pressing on the lever F serves to move the shaft in the opposite direction, thereby causing the clamps to bind against the ends of the can. The lower end of the lever F is forked. As already stated, it is pivoted on a shaft? in bearings n, and its upper end is curved and points in the direction of the end of the shaft 7c. The lever F serves to release the can or to spread the clamps apart to permit the insertion of a can and is operated by ieans of an upward incline j on the circular track. (See Figs. 2, 3, and 4.) This up'-incline leads to an elevated horizontal part I) of the track, and therefrom is a down i11- cline j to the main part of the track b. 00- acting with this up-inclined partj of the track is a wheel G, fixed'on the tubular shaft E above the hub E. can-holders rotation the outer end thereof arrives at the up -incline j, it is elevated or tilted up on its pivots g, which movement. brings the upper curved end of the lever F in contact with the wheel G, as in Fig. 3, and thereby the pressure of the clamp disk 7; on

hen in the course of the the can is released. The can holder frames are so pivoted to the hub that the pinion m \\lll gear with the teeth of the beveled wheel s on the main shaft (1.

l) and permit the cau-holder frames to be i raised and lowered,which movement does not affect: the rotation of the can-clamps nor their grip on the can, except when the can -holder 1 is at the elevated part I) of the circular track. The frecend ot' the can-holder frame has a projection 7t',\\'lll0l1 serves as a handle, by which each can-holder may be separately raised or lowered. The free end of the canholder frame on its under side has a supporting-roller H, which rests upon and travels around on the circular track. The cans are removed from the holders 1; and another can placed thereon by an attendant, and this is done while the clamp-disk 1'. remains retractcdto wit, while each can -holder is passing along the elevated horizontal part 7/ of the track. A tuning-receptacle \V has a wheel 9, which revolves freely. As the lower end of each can passes over this wheel 9 the flux is applied thereto. The solder-trough N is semicircular in shape and has position inside of the track l), where the lower end of the can will dip into it. As the can -holdcrs travel continuously around the track while the cans are revolving, the said lower-end seam of the cans willpass along the entire length of the solder-trough. One or more suitable burners T below the solder-trough keep the solder in a molten condition.

Each can-holdcr frame 1-3 is provided with a pendent skimmer L, which dips into the solder-trough N and sweeps along its entire length, and therebybrushcs from the surface of the molten solder the dross which accumulates on the surface. This pendent skimmcr has to pass over the flux-applying device 1), because the latter is in the path of the skimmer. It is important, therefore, to shift the skimmer at the moment of passing the flax to prevent contact. Accordingly I pivot the skimmer, as at 10, and extend its upper end 11 so as to project higher than the canbody. (See Figs. 1 and S. An arm L is fixed in any suitable way above the finx-applying device and in the path of the upper end 11 of the skimmer. As the can-holder moves along over the flux device the upper end ll of the skimmer will strike the station ary arm L, which latter will tilt the skimmer, as indicated in Fig. i by broken lines, so as to lift its lower skimmer end above the flux device.

An automatic solder-supply device is cm- 1', that revolves by contact with a disk wheel A guidet'ube or feedtnbe t projects laterally from the rollers, and the delivery end of this tube is at the soldertrough N. The wire-solder is thereby forced through the tube and maintains a gradual supply of solder to the trough. The rollers, shaftwheel 0', and. feed-tube If are all carried by a suitable head I, which is vertically movable on an uprightrod J, having a collar 11. A spiral spring 1; is around the rod above its collar and sustains the head I, and keeps the wheel r normally pressed up in contact with the disk wheel 8. A red or wire fl. connects the head I with a foot-treadlc y, by depressing which the wire-solder-fced device will be lowercd and the revolution of the feed-rollers stopped. continuously and gradually; but the supply may be stopped at any time. The action of the spring 1: and the treadle 1 may be reversed from that shown, so that the depression of the treadle will cause the solder to be fed instead of stopped. An air-b1astpipe zis arranged to deliver cold air onto the hot ends of the cans. This pipe is curved, as seen in Fig. 2, and the air-supply comes through the pipe .2".

The machine solders one end of the can at a time. The machine being set in motion and the solder brought to a molten condition, the attendant takes position at the elevated horizontal part Z) of the track and supplies the cans and removes them as fast as they are soldered. Of course the cans may be fed to and removed from the machine by any suitable automatic mechanism, if desired. As both shafts C- E turn in the same direction but at different speeds, each can will revolve on its own axis in a direction opposite to that which its holder 1 travels, whereby the molten solder has a better effect on the end seam of the can.

In view of the full description of the parts and their action the general operation will be t readily understood.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a can-soldering machine, the combination of the circulartrack, a vertical revoluble shaft C, concentric with the track and provided with a gear-wheel D, a tubular shaft E around the shaft first mentioned and provided with a hub, both shafts turning in the same direction, but at different speeds, canholders pivoted by one end to said hub, and each having a pinion in gear with the wheel I) on the shaft first mentioned, and a moltensolder trough, whereby each can will revolve on its own axis in a direction opposite to that in which its holders travel.

Q. In a can-soldering machine, the combination of the circular track having at one place an elevated part b and an incline up thereto and down therefrom, a vertical revoluble shaft 0, concentric with the track and provided with a gear-wheel D, a tubular shaft E around the shaft first mentioned and prolhus the solder is fed vided with a hub Eand a Wheel G, can-holders pivoted by one end to said hub and each having a pinion in gear with the Wheel D on the shaft first mentioned, and a retractinglever on each can-holder whose end will come in contact with the said Wheel Gon the tubular shaft when the outer end of the can-holder is raised.

3. In a can-soldering machine, the combination of a mo1ten-s0ldertrough,a stationary flux device, can-holders movable over said soldertrough and flux device, a pendent skimmer pivoted to the can-holder, and a stationary arm L above the flux device and in the path of the skimmer.

4. In a can-soldering machine, the combination of a molten-solder trough, can-holders movable over said trough, an automatic solder-supply device to feed wire-so1der to the trough, said device movable on a supporting-rod, a spring to keep the solder-supply device moved normally to one position, and a foot-treadle connected with said device to act against the spring, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ELBERT THOMSON. \Vitnesses:

W. F. EARP, H..LIEB. 

